In a move that will provide big relief to travellers around the world,
the European Union has announced plans to make the Schengen visa application
digital.
European Union foreign ministers have adopted a
change that will shift the process of applying for visas to visit the Schengen
area to an online platform. This move towards digitalization eliminates the
need for visa applicants to obtain a sticker in their passport, streamlining
the application process and doing away with consulate or service provider
appointments.
The change is expected to come into effect
following technical work on the visa platform, which is anticipated to take
several months, and subsequent publication in the EU's administrative gazette.
The Schengen area includes 23 of the 27 EU member countries, along with associated neighbors Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, whose country holds
the EU presidency, said that the online visa system "will simplify the
application process for travelers." Once implemented, individuals applying
for short stays in the Schengen area will upload necessary documents, data, and
electronic copies of their travel documents with biometric information, and pay
fees, all through the online platform.
If approved after cross-checks with databases, applicants will receive a
cryptographically signed barcode to print or store in a device. However,
first-time applicants or those with new passports or changed biometric data may
still need an in-person appointment.
While citizens from over 60 countries, including Australia, Britain,
Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, usually do not require Schengen
visas for short visits, they will still need to apply online for pre-screened
entry through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS),
expected to be operational in mid-2025.
All visitors entering the European Union, whether with visas or visa
waivers, will undergo processing through an automated EU Entry/Exit System
(EES), set to be implemented by the end of 2024. The EES will record
individuals' details, biometric data, entry and exit dates, monitoring
overstays and refused entries.
